Ruby Nell takes them all the way in the Buena Vista (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Reunited with Edwin Maldonado following a disappointing run at Gulfstream Park, Richard Mandella’s Ruby Nell was in complete command throughout as she posted a solid gate-to-wire victory in Sunday’s Grade II, $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes, winning by three-quarters of a length while getting one mile over a Santa Anita turf course listed as “good” in 1:35.01.
A dedicated front runner, Ruby Nell made the lead as expected but was very headstrong in the run up the backside, as she pulled at Maldonado who took a short hold while raised up past the half-mile pole.
Approaching the three-furlong pole, Maldonado dropped his hands and Ruby Nell seemed to relish the prospect of sprinting for home as she enjoyed a 2 ½ length edge over highly regarded Bellabel at the quarter pole and from there, she held off the late charge of Mouffy in a most impressive effort.
Third, beaten 1 ¾ lengths going a mile and one-sixteenth in the Grade II Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational on Jan. 27, Ruby Nell was the 4-5 favorite among a field of nine older fillies and mares today and paid $3.60, $2.80 and $2.60.
A 4-year-old filly by Bolt d’Oro out of the Not For Love mare Rich Love, Ruby Nell, who is owned by Spendthrift Farm, notched her second graded stakes win and fourth overall added money score, improving her overall race record to 12-6-2-2. With the winner’s share of $120,000, she increased her earnings to $491,520.
A close second at one mile on turf in the Gade III Megahertz Stakes here on Feb. 3, the Jonathan Thomas-trained Mouffy, ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori, took blinkers off today and finished up well at 5-1, returning $5.00 and $3.60.
Another length back in third was French-bred Nadette, who rallied from far back under Hector Berrios. Trained by Neil Drysdale, she was off at 25-1 and paid $6.20 to show while finishing one length in front of Irish-bred Be Your Best.
Fractions on the race were 23.55, 46.88, 1:10.81 and 1:22.57.
Racing resumes with first post time for a nine-race card on Monday at 12:30 p.m. Fans 21 and over will be treated to $3 beers and $5 margaritas.
GRADE II, $200,000 BUENA VISTA STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
EDWIN MALDONADO, RUBY NELL, WINNER: “I just let her do her thing. She wants it her way and even if you fight her, she’s going to do it her way, so I just let her do her thing.
“It was tough to watch her and not be on her in the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (Gr. 2), but I was still rooting for her. I’m just glad Richard gave me the opportunity to be back on her, it’s a blessing. I knew my job was to make it wire to wire, just get her to relax and not fight her. When she hit the backside, she wanted it her way, so I said, ‘Okay, go ahead.’ And she got the job done today. She is getting stronger.”
TRAINER QUOTES
RICHARD MANDELLA, RUBY NELL, WINNER: “That ride looked like what Edwin does. I interfered with instruction last time, so I stayed out today. ‘Ruby’ is such a good filly. She still has plenty in her, and there might be more to come. I never had a doubt that Ruby would win, but the training schedule on all these horses the last couple weeks has been difficult. Keeping their minds right is pretty tough. I’m very proud that she handled it as well as she did.”
NOTES: The winning owner is Spendthrift Farm, LLC.
